Transcript Highlights:

• So, any further discussion?
• Is there any discussion? Seeing no discussion, all those in favor will vote aye.
• Is there any discussion? Seeing no discussion, all those in favor will vote aye.
• Is there any discussion? The question is on the passage of Senate Bill 278.
• Is there any discussion? Seeing no discussion, all those in favor will vote aye.

Summary: The Senate convened with 30 members present, heard the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, and approved several temporary excusals. The chamber received gubernatorial appointments to multiple boards and commissions, then recessed and later took up resolutions and legislation. It adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 13, a tribute memorializing former Senator and Representative Robert Geake, after remarks honoring his long legislative career and public service; the resolution was adopted and all members and the Lieutenant Governor were added as co-sponsors. The Senate also adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 14, which approved an extension of a state of emergency related to gasoline prices through Labor Day. Senator Camilleri argued the extension would help lower fuel costs for residents, while Senator McBroom later criticized the resolution as political theater and urged action on substantive energy legislation, including a pending Upper Peninsula-related bill. The resolution passed by roll call, 36-1. In floor action, the Senate introduced and referred several bills, including measures on the Income Tax Act, Michigan Trust Fund Act, road classification, the Food Law, Motor Fuels Quality Act, and automated decision tools in employment. The chamber then passed three bills on third reading: Senate Bill 480 on child care organization licensing and regulation, Senate Bill 517 amending the Revised School Code, and Senate Bill 278 amending the State Housing Development Authority Act of 1966. The Senate adjourned after statements and a final motion to adjourn until June 25 at 10 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• We had a lengthy discussion.
• We can raise rates without legislative statutory—not without legislative approval, obviously we have
• I wanted to make sure legislators understand. Okay.
• In all the discussions prior to the legislation coming to committee, I know there had to have been people
• Did y'all have discussions prior to the...

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Further discussion discussion members.
• <01:18:28.159> on<01:18:28.320> the it on discussion on discussion on the it on discussion
• Discussion<03:26:33.160> of<03:26:34.160> amendment Discussion of amendment Discussion
• Further<03:36:49.120> discussion. Further discussion. Further discussion.
• Further<04:26:58.720> discussion? Further discussion? Further discussion?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Any other discussion?
• Any other discussion?
• Is there further discussion? Discussion?
• discussion? discussion?
• Any discussion? uh today. So, thank you. Any discussion?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I know that we've had many discussions along this line.
• I'm with the Bureau of Legislative Research. There we go.
• So this is going to kind of guide my discussion today.
• Both of those will be discussed tomorrow.
• The Bureau of Legislative Research.

Summary: The meeting began with approval of the previous minutes and then focused on an update from the Department of Education on early childhood programs, especially the state-funded Arkansas Better Chance (ABC) program. Secretary Jacob Oliva and Deputy Commissioner Stacey Smith said Arkansas had received a federal Preschool Development Grant and described ongoing work to review ABC slots, which have been flat for years at about 23,800 slots and roughly $114 million. They said about 1,000 slots statewide are currently unfilled despite a waiting list of more than 2,000 families, and the department is shifting toward paying based on enrollment rather than guaranteed slots. Members asked about school choice, income eligibility, year-round access, curriculum flexibility, transportation, and whether funding should be increased or rebalanced; the department said it is collecting data, may survey providers more formally, and is considering whether to modernize income thresholds, daily rates, and other program rules. The committee agreed to form an early childhood subcommittee and asked the Bureau of Legislative Research to help gather historical information on income limits and other program details. The second major portion of the meeting was a legal presentation on the framework for Arkansas school adequacy by BLR education attorney Taylor Lloyd. She reviewed the constitutional basis for a “general, suitable, and efficient” public school system, the Dupree and Lake View cases, and the principle that adequacy and equity are different but related: adequacy asks what resources are needed, while equity asks whether those resources are distributed fairly. She explained that the General Assembly must define adequacy, study it, and react to evidence over time, and that the current adequacy definition includes curriculum and career/technical frameworks, the 38 mandatory Carnegie units, state testing standards, and sufficient funding. She also described the matrix as a funding tool, not a spending mandate, and noted that categorical funds are separate from the matrix. BLR’s Elizabeth Bynum then gave the historical framework, tracing legislative responses from Dupree through Lake View and into the present. She highlighted major changes such as the creation of equalization funding, fiscal distress and academic distress laws, the adequacy study process, the Educational Adequacy Fund, facilities and transportation changes, declining enrollment and student growth funding, and later adjustments to teacher salaries, isolated funding, and categorical programs. She explained that the adequacy study has evolved through committee hearings, surveys, site visits, and outside consultants, and that recent changes include updates to accountability references and the addition or removal of certain funding categories. Members asked follow-up questions about how the matrix is used, whether homeschool or private-school funding raises comparable issues, whether stakeholders include private and homeschool participants, whether school board members should be surveyed, and whether the state should revisit average daily membership versus attendance-based funding. No votes were taken on the adequacy presentations, but the committee did agree to continue the early childhood discussion in a future subcommittee meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any discussion?
• Any discussion?
• Any discussion?
• Any discussion?
• Any discussion?

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But we're also going to discuss some variations.
• But anyway, that's further under discussion.
• So I think that’s part of driving the discussion to have those nine discussed separately from the other
• No, this is an open discussion.
• legislators decide, we'll work with.

Summary: The Higher Education Funding Review Committee met to continue work on a draft higher education funding formula and related capital building fund changes. Lisa Johnson of the North Dakota University System updated the committee on the board’s developing policy for low-producing academic programs. She said the board is using a five-year rolling window, with thresholds of fewer than 10 undergraduate graduates or fewer than 5 graduate graduates, and that programs flagged in three consecutive review cycles would go to the board for review. Possible outcomes include continuation, continuation with modifications, inactivation, or termination. Members asked about how the policy would account for enrollment, program costs, workforce need, and programs that serve students outside their major. Johnson said the board would likely use an accompanying procedure to consider those factors. She also reported that about 200 programs could potentially be reviewed under current guidance, with 135 inactivated and 112 terminated, and said the process is intended to support quality and stewardship rather than simply cut programs. Jamie Wilkie then reported on the Capital Building Fund. He reviewed the fund’s history, matching requirements, and use for extraordinary repairs, deferred maintenance, and some legislatively authorized projects. He said about $334 million in state and matching dollars has been invested overall, with roughly 78.7% going to deferred maintenance and extraordinary repairs. Committee members pressed for updated information on how much deferred maintenance has actually been reduced, and several members said they wanted clearer reporting on the return on investment from new buildings versus repairs. NDSU representatives said the tier funding has helped significantly reduce deferred maintenance and allowed demolition and renovation work on campus. The committee also discussed the need for updated five-year facility plans and space-utilization information from the institutions. The committee then began a section-by-section review of a draft bill that would replace the current higher education funding formula with an FTE-based model and restructure the capital building fund. The draft would fund UND and NDSU differently from the other nine institutions, use fall enrollment rather than completed credits, add performance funding for completions in in-demand fields, create research incentives for UND and NDSU, and combine capital building fund tiers while changing matching requirements and eligible uses. Members raised concerns about the treatment of professional students, the use of CIP codes, incentives for waivers, and whether the formula should rely on more current data. The committee did not take final action on the draft during this meeting, but it continued detailed discussion and indicated more review would follow.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we'll also get a preview of legislation that may come up in the next legislative session or before
• I work for the Legislative Counsel Service.
• individual legislator.
• No, Madam Chair, it's discussion that we needed, and we got some good discussion. Great.
• There isn't a program cap, but that has been discussed and certainly will be discussed.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there any discussion?
• Is there any discussion?
• Is there any discussion?
• Is there any discussion?
• Is there any discussion?

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum, excused several members, and heard a memorial statement from Majority Floor Leader Singh honoring Thomas James Cleary, a longtime Michigan public servant, lobbyist, and civic volunteer. The chamber also recognized a departing staff member from Senator Geis’s office and later welcomed guests from Cleary’s family. No substantive debate occurred during these tributes, and remarks were ordered printed in the journal. The Senate then handled a large number of introductions and referrals, including Senate Joint Resolution K to prohibit autopen use by certain executive officials, Senate bills on Treasury revenue collection and liquor control, and numerous House bills covering housing, health, insurance, natural resources, education, consumer finance, child care licensing, public employment contracts, and other topics. Several housing and finance-related House bills were sent directly to the Committee of the Whole by unanimous consent. In Committee of the Whole, bills including House Bill 4072, House Bill 5630, Senate Bills 792, 793, 947, 1013, and 885 were considered; substitutes were adopted for House Bill 5630, Senate Bills 1013, 947, and 885, and the committee recommended all of those bills, plus House Bill 4072, Senate Bills 792 and 793, for third reading. On final passage, House Bill 4042 and House Bill 5630 each passed 34-0, with four members excused. The Senate also concurred in the House substitute to Senate Concurrent Resolution 14, approving an extension of the state energy emergency, by a 33-1 vote. By contrast, concurrence in the House substitute to Senate Bill 878 failed 2-32, sending that appropriations bill to conference committee. The House then named conferees on Senate Bill 878, and the Senate named conferees for both SB 878 and HB 5630 after the chambers disagreed on those measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any further discussion?
• And so this is belt and suspenders so that we make sure after six years of discussion... or not discussing
• Any further discussion?
• Further discussion on the amendment?
• A legislator that hid legislation, that hid controversial policies...

Transcript Highlights:

• IT'S ALSO NOT A DISAVOWAL OF REGULATORY LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY.
• 2016 LAW THAT WAS JUST DISCUSSED?
• SESSION AFTER THE RULES SUBMISSION FOR LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION.
• ARE WE NOT PUBLISHING DEADLINES FOR THOSE RULES TO BE PUBLISHED IN OUR LEGISLATION?
• THAT WOULD BE A DISCUSSION WE SHOULD BE HAVING AS A LEGISLATIVE BODY THAT SAYS IS THIS THING THAT'S MORE

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This legislation that is before you today is reckless, a direct attack on a... ...legislation that is
• was discussed, along with the... ...of approximately 20 people where a change in legislation was discussed
• I think this bill deserves a much more thorough discussion in committee today. ...thorough discussion
• I think it needs further discussion.
• Any further discussion?

Bills: HB2042, HB2052, HB2055, HB2056, HB2094, HB2098, HB2185, HB2328, HB2758, HB2798

Keywords: solar radiation management, environment, prohibition, Arizona Revised Statutes, public health, complaint process, Attorney General, groundwater management, water conservation, irrigation, water supply, brackish groundwater, water supply development, desalination, water infrastructure, financial assistance, environmental reviews, brackish water, groundwater, water resources

Transcript Highlights:

• Any other discussion? Say no other discussion. Okay, the motion is inexpedient to legislate.
• Seeing no other discussion, motion is inexpedient to legislate on HB 1760 FNA.
• Seeing no other discussion, motion is inexpedient to legislate on HB 1760 FNA.
• Other discussion? Seeing no other discussion, motion is inexpedient to legislate on HB 1760 FNA.
• Other discussion? Seeing no other discussion, motion is inexpedient to legislate on HB 1760 FNA.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Discussion on the general.
• Discussion on the bill. Discussion on the bill? Are there amendments?
• Discussion or amendments?
• Discussion on the amendment?
• Discussion or amendments?

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• most enacted legislation.
• had enacted legislation.
• As you saw with introduced legislation, there's a lot more introduced legislation than enacted legislation
• legislation.
• introduced legislation.

Summary: The committee held its first meeting on artificial intelligence and data centers, establishing its purpose as a study and policy-development body rather than one aimed at producing many bills. Majority Leader Hogue urged members to move quickly, focus on federal and other states’ AI laws, consider possible federal preemption, child protections, and the siting and economic impacts of data centers. Committee leadership echoed that the goal is practical, balanced governance that protects North Dakota while allowing innovation to continue. Legislative Council staff provided a background memo and NCSL presented a detailed overview of AI concepts and the current state legislative landscape. The presentations distinguished narrow AI, generative AI, agentic AI, and theoretical AGI/ASI, and summarized major state policy themes: comprehensive AI laws in states such as Utah, Colorado, Texas, California, and Illinois; targeted laws on deepfakes, chatbots, health, education, notifications, and digital likeness; and growing use of appropriations and agency inventories. Members asked about Colorado’s repeal and reenactment, Texas’s sandbox and training provisions, oversight structures, and whether AI regulation is bipartisan; presenters said most issues cut across party lines, with broad agreement on child safety and deepfakes but more division on broader regulatory approaches. The federal update focused on executive orders, preemption, and congressional activity. NCSL described a White House framework favoring a single federal standard, a DOJ litigation task force, Commerce Department review of state laws, and possible funding conditions tied to state AI policy, though no formal state-law challenge had yet occurred. The presentation also covered a recent executive order creating a voluntary federal vetting process for advanced frontier models after safety concerns, and congressional proposals including a failed 10-year state moratorium, Senator Blackburn’s child-safety bills, the Kids Online Safety Act, a House-passed children’s digital safety package, a Senate data center moratorium proposal, and a House ratepayer/data-center bill. The committee took no formal action beyond receiving testimony and asking questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is discussion in the legislative history that many more people could benefit from community-based
• And then section two is a statement of legislative intent, and it goes through the legislative intent
• Yes, I'm really glad the... ...broader discussion.
• Any other discussion?
• Any other discussion? Yeah, Senator Marcellais. Mr.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• President, the Senate Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure... Discussion.
• Is there a discussion? Senator Young? Is there discussion? Senator Young?
• And again, I would encourage your support of the legislation. Is there further discussion?
• Is there further discussion?
• Is there a further discussion? Senator Gordon. Further discussion. Senator Garten.

Keywords: 964, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are in the discussion phase on the motion.
• Well, we're not—I do have others in the queue, so if we're not discussing... there was not legislation
• Well, we're not in discussion.
• I do have others in the queue, so if we're not in discussion, let me wait to discuss that.
• Any discussion? Well, there's immediate consideration, no discussion.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I want this to be a really informal discussion.
• Are we just talking about the discussion? Okay.
• So how can we legislate that, right?
• So how can we legislate that, right?
• You're absolutely going to be a legislator, so you're going to be bringing legislation here soon.

Summary: The Tribal and State Relations Committee met at Standing Rock with tribal council members, state legislators, and agency representatives to discuss state-tribal coordination and local priorities. Early discussion focused on process concerns, including the short agenda time and the need for better communication, more advance notice, and more relevant state department staff at future meetings. Tribal leaders asked for lists of state tribal liaisons and bills affecting tribes, and state members said they would follow up, share grant and deadline information, and plan another meeting in Bismarck with program experts and agency staff. A major portion of the meeting centered on health, child welfare, law enforcement, housing, infrastructure, and sovereignty issues. Tribal speakers said rural health transformation funding and other state programs often do not fit direct-service tribes or IHS-funded systems, and they raised concerns about Medicaid, ICWA, foster care delays, human service zones, housing shortages, and the placement of Native children off-reservation. They also discussed missing and murdered Indigenous people, search-and-rescue cooperation, cross-deputization, extradition and banishment ordinances, and the need for stronger law enforcement partnerships that respect tribal sovereignty. Other concerns included poor roads, water and sewer needs in Sioux County communities, census accuracy, and the impact of data centers and other development on water and health. Economic development and regulatory issues were also discussed. Standing Rock representatives raised concerns about charitable gaming and e-pull tabs, saying the machines function like Class III gaming and have harmed tribal revenue while spreading into local businesses. They also described problems with county-issued fireworks permits and state/county liquor licensing rules that they said undermine tribal authority within reservation boundaries. In response, legislators said the committee would continue to look at these issues, and one member suggested possible legislation such as limiting e-tabs near tribal lands. The committee also heard from Joseph McNeil of Sage Development Authority about a 235-megawatt wind project on tribal, allotted, and fee land; he said federal permitting delays have stalled the project and asked for state support to help move it forward. The meeting concluded with a presentation from Dave Archambo of Wojou, a nonprofit focused on land regeneration, buffalo, food sovereignty, cultural programming, and youth wellness. He described the organization’s work on buffalo processing, gardening, fishing, hunting, language, and arts programs, and framed it as a response to historical trauma and community healing. The committee then broke for lunch and planned to resume with the Wojou presentation after the recess.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there any further discussion? Is there any further discussion?
• Is there any further discussion? Is there any further discussion?
• >> Any further discussion on 009? >> Any further discussion on 009?
• >> Any further discussion on L009? >> Any further discussion on L009?
• >> Is there any discussion on L-15? >> Is there any discussion on L-15?

Keywords: 981, all